Albania; Armenia (Armenia); Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; China; Croatia; Czech, Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; Georgia; Greece; Hungary; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Iraq; Japan; Kazakhstan; Korea, Democratic People's Republic of; Korea, Republic of; Latvia; Lithuania; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Moldova; Mongolia; Montenegro; Norway; Poland; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia (Serbia); Slovakia; Syrian Arab Republic; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Ukraine; Uzbekistan

Small numbers occur on passage or in winter – Reintroduced to: 

Belgium; Germany; Netherlands; Sweden

Found outside its species’ usual range- Vagrant:

Egypt; France; India; Ireland; Israel; Jordan; Myanmar; Oman; Pakistan; Spain; Switzerland; Taiwan, Province of China; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States (Georgia - Native)

Nesting birds are disrupted by the increasing tourism and angling. These species are shot accidentally during hunting of other species so the illegal spring hunting that takes place on the breeding grounds decreases the rate of reproduction of these species. Also the habitat deterioration is accounted for another major threat The species lost their habitat through land cultivation and increased water levels in the Casparian Sea due to the creation of hydroelectric power. The species are also threatened by the nest predation, Red Fox Vulpex vulpex. Since these animals depend habitat for breeding, climate changes and the shifting o habitats because of the global warming and human impact on the environment effect this species negatively. According to iucnredlist, the most important threat is the shooting of these animals on the staging and wintering grounds. Disturbance of roosting and feeding birds is a limiting factor on survival and breeding output. Lastly the coastline which these birds migrate through is degraded by petroleum pollution, wetland drainage for agriculture, changes in wetland management leading to scrub and reed overgrowth, peat extraction, and the burning and mowing of reed beds.

It has an estimated population of 8000-11000 autumn individuals in the western Palearctic andapproximately 20000 wintering individuals in The East Asian flyway. However,its population is not showing a significant increase. The population has nearly 18800-22000 mature individuals and tends to decrease over time.

Behavior:

This species is a migratory organisms that breeds in northern Scandinavia and arctic Russia. In late August to early September, these organisms migrates from their breeding grounds to warmer places using several routes. Departing from their breeding sites they reach wintering grounds in south-east Europe and Near East. Their journey back to their breeding sites starts in February.

Breeding Habitat: 

This species breeds in low-lying bogs, scrub-covered tundra and taiga-forest edges close to wetlands, up to 700 m above sea level. They are also usually found on the slopes of lower parts of mountain streams, mountain foothills, mountain lakes and precipices. Boggy areas and stone field are places they like the most. They also spent a flightless summer after they breed.

Non-Breeding Habitat:

When they do not breed, the number of this species increases in open short grasslands in the steppe, semi-arid zones, pastures, farmlands meadows, large lakes and rivers.

Diet: 

It is a herbivorous animal, feeding on grasses, roots, stems, leaves, fruits and the green parts of aquatic and terrestrial plants. During cold weathers, it finds its nutrition in winter grains. 

Breeding Site: 

They are not colonial breeders and nest in pairs on isolated territories. They nest on snow-free patches like rocky places or in boggy hollows.

This species is protected in range states except Azerbaijan and China. Thanks to improving satellite technology, its habitat and ecology is investigated more precisely and thus Sweden made a reintroduction program recently. An European Action Plan was published in 1996 and International Single Species Action Plan was published in 2008. These attempts produced materials that would increase the public’s awareness. Not only these materials, but also there are several captive breeding populations that are forced to reproduce.

Proposed:

·  Reducing hunting pressure in key wintering and staging areas.

·  Locating monitor and protecting key areas.

·  Continuing satellite tracking and other research

·  Preventing habitat loss and managing habitats in staging and wintering areas.

·  Promoting international and national legal protection and developing captive breeding programs.

·  Promoting public awareness.